Hidden Sugar in Seemingly Healthy Food

This is the time of year where a lot of folks are doing what they can to limit their intake of sodas and desserts and candy. But did you know there are a lot of other foods that have hidden sugars in them that may not be so obvious. So if you're trying to cut back on your sugar, pay attention to these foods as well.

Sauces and condiments: Ketchup, sriracha, ranch dressing, tomato sauce and mayonnaise all contain sugar, and some are actually high in fat too. Ketchup for example has an entire teaspoon of sugar in a single tablespoon. So think twice before piling on the sauce and look for an option with less sugar such as mustard and even a small amount of avocado spread.

Instant foods: Instant oatmeal, for example, is packed with added sugar and flavoring. Prepared a certain way, oatmeal can actually be pretty healthy. But the 13 grams of added sugar in some varieties of instant oatmeal can be quite a punch to your healthy lifestyle.

Juices: A raging health trend is emphasizing juice as a means of getting recommended number of fruit in vegetable servings each day. However, popular bottled juice brands often contain an alarming amount of sugar. If you love your daily juice, check the sugar content, and you may be better off by getting a juicer and making your own low-sugar recipes at home.

So if you've been successful at cutting down on the sugary sweets in your diet, take a look at your other foods as well, those that you eat on a regular basis. Sometimes you'd be surprised to find out how much sugar is hidden in them as well. And that can derail your diet. For maintaining good health, I'm Dr. Tedd Mitchell.